[SURVEY] SHOWDOWN: Vote for Your Favorite Z-Wave/Zigbee In-Wall Relay Switch Modules

Not often but I have 4 hubs in 3 different places and quite a few Aeon micro/ emerwave modules. Once in a while. I have no control of the module (mostly Aeon micro). Easiest way is to use the replace option in the ST app if Power cycle/z-wave repair doesn’t work.

Forgive me, but I’m confused as to why you’d have to “scour the web.”

SmartThings relies on two thirdparty standards, Zwave and Zigbee. Both have official sites with listings of all products they have certified. So just two places to look.

http://products.z-wavealliance.org/regions/2/categories

.

http://www.zigbee.org/zigbee-products-2/

Individual devices might require some custom code in order to work with SmartThings, or perhaps not work with SmartThings at all, but they shouldn’t be hard to find.

Or am I misunderstanding the issue?

Also, you are still missing at least two Zigbee relays off the official SmartThings compatibility list. Many are very popular in the community for use with regular light fixtures. For one thing, they act as Zigbee repeaters, which can be useful, especially for those using a lot of Zigbee sensors who want to strengthen the mesh. :sunglasses:

ZBMLC15 is a ZigBee Home Automation (HA) compliant load controller with energy metering capability. Its compact size allows it to be placed inside a standard, single-gang, outlet box, thus providing intelligent control to a regular AC outlet or switch. Installation is simple and can be done by DIYers themselves. It contains one relay capable of monitoring the energy consumption and switching on/ off of medium power devices. It even works when you aren’t doing anything, by eliminating idle power drawn by connected devices. Using ZBMLC15, you can control and monitor things like small appliances plugged into outlets or overhead fixtures like lighting or ceiling fans. Joining an HA network is simple and within one it also acts as a router, increasing network range and integrity.

I wonder if part of the confusion is around the term “fixture relay.” You have several of these in your survey list.

The term is used typically in two different ways. The primary meaning is a relay which does not replace the wall switch. It can be put in the switchbox or at the light fixture. But you still have to have a wall switch If you want to actuate it manually.

Many people use the term to mean exactly the same thing except that it specifically not have dimmer capability. I believe it was Leviton who was the first major brand first to use it in this way, although I may be mistaken. But in any case Leviton would put out two versions of very similar devices, one would have dimming, called a “dimmer,” and one without dimming, called a “fixture relay.” But by the more general term, they were both fixture relays because neither replaced the wall switch. Again though they could be placed in different places on the circuit, in the switchbox itself, at the fixture, or someplace else.

@Navat604 or one of the other wiring experts could probably say more.

In any case, I’m pretty sure everything on your list except the dimmers would normally be considered “fixture relays” in a home automation context. That would be true whether they are for light loads, medium loads, variable loads (motor control), single or dual.

Medium load fixture relays can usually handle regular lighting or small appliances. They can also typically handle fans for on/off, but not speed control.

Dimmers are generally classified differently these days because of the various kinds of lighting and the different ways in which that dimming is handled. But again Ray or the other electrical experts could say more.

I think many comparison site to do put all the dimmers in one category and all of the on/off only relays in a different category for feature comparison. Personally, I don’t think that’s a big deal.

But I do think all the non-dimmers on your list are fixture relays, which makes the first post a little confusing.

Submitted with respect.

Yep, you’re missing something.
Many many devices won’t ever be officially supported by smartthings but will work.
But never mind.

The two links I gave are to the lists of devices officially certified for those protocols by the two standards associations. Not devices officially certified as compatible with SmartThings. That’s why i said individual devices might not work with SmartThings or might need custom code. But every potential Zwave candidate will be at that link. And every device certified for ZHA compatibility.

So if you’re looking for Zwave relays, they will all be at that one link. Whether they are officially supported by smartthings or not.

Alrighty. Thanks for the tip.

Probably that’s where the confusion is. All these different terms for the same device. I don’t have any zigbee relay module but it doesn’t hurt for people to chime in with feedback to this survey with other relay modules.

@tgauchat Ditto for me! I do the same thing on my stairs. My favorite use for this setup is I have a Stairs Night Light routine so that I only have one of my two GE lights on and it is dimmed to 10%. It’s perfect.

I am using Qubino 2 relay. So far I’ve had good luck with them.
Using one inside ceiling fan to control light and fan separately ( convient for son that can’t reach pull strings). And another that monitors the position of the switch to control just the light on the ceiling fan. Fan is controlled only through Alexa or app and Core Automation. Other relay at switch control porch light via switch and/or Automation.

QUBINO Flush ZMNHBD3 Z-Wave 2 relays - the smallest double relay switch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFC2V6M/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apip_TS9Jis42pP5NW